Trailblazers: How A Community Saved Its Mountains

Abstract

Issaquah History Museums (IHM), a historical society in Issaquah, Washington, sought the assistance of UW Museology students to create a new exhibit focusing on the town's environmental history. The new exhibit would detail the history of land use and community activism on the Issaquah Alps, a series of forested peaks vital to Issaquah's economy and culture. Our exhibit, Trailblazers: How A Community Saved Its Mountains, reveals this important facet of the town's identity over the course of 23 interpretive panels, 2 display cases, and 2 interactive stations. This exhibit was designed for a small historic space in the Issaquah Depot Museum, which necessitated creative solutions to the limitations of the space. Trailblazers is part of IHM's efforts to establish greater relevance in its community, by bridging the gap between historical context and modern appreciation for the Issaquah Alps. A formative evaluation bolstered our suspicions that Issaquah residents value the natural beauty of the landscape, while also revealing knowledge gaps which our exhibit is well-positioned to address. We hope that our exhibit will give residents a greater sense of belonging and a desire to take action into the future. IHM will benefit from a revitalized identity and a case study for collaboration with local fabricators and sponsors. Environmental conservation is an issue with relevance through the past, present, and future, and by tackling this topic, Issaquah History Museums will maintain greater relevance in turn.